Inspired Afghanistan stun Australia, keep World Cup semi-final hopes alive
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran shared an opening stand of 118 runs before Gulbadin Naib took over and led Afghanistan to a 21-run victory over Australia in St Vincent on Saturday, keeping their hopes of reaching the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals alive.
A win for Australia would have advanced the 2021 champions and India to the final four, but Pat Cummins' second hat-trick in as many matches was insufficient to maintain their unbeaten tournament record.
Gurbaz and Zadran scored half centuries to help the Afghans reach 148-6 in 20 overs, before their bowlers dismissed the Australians for 127 on a tricky Kingstown track.
Naib claimed 4-20 and Naveen-ul-Haq 3-20, but Gurbaz and Zadran's third century partnership of the tournament laid the groundwork for a victory that also kept Bangladesh alive.
"We've waited for a long time (for this)," said man-of-the-match Naib.
"It's a big moment for our nation and our people. I have no words, but thanks to the fans who supported us in our career and cricket journey ... thank God we finally beat Australia. It's a great achievement for Afghanistan.
"We have achieved many things in the last 10 years, but this is big."
India lead Group 1 with four points, followed by Australia and Afghanistan with two, and Bangladesh is last with none.
India and Australia face off in St Lucia on Monday, while the Afghans remain in St Vincent to face Bangladesh in the final Super Eight match later that day.
Mitchell Marsh, Australia's captain, won the toss and surprised everyone by sending the Afghans in to bat and fielding left-arm spinner Ashton Agar instead of Mitchell Starc.
In the early overs, the Australian bowlers appeared to suffocate the Afghans, but the lack of a breakthrough wicket allowed Gurbaz and Zadran to settle in and accelerate through the middle overs.
The Afghans' crisp batting and hard running put pressure back on the Australians, who made uncharacteristic fielding errors under the lights at the Arnos Vale Ground.
The pair had reached their half-centuries before Marcus Stoinis separated them in the 16th over, when Gurbaz mistimed a shot to David Warner at deep square leg, leaving for 60.
Spinner Adam Zampa removed Azmatullah Omarzai (2) and Zadran (51) in the next over, while paceman Cummins sent back skipper Rashid Khan cheaply with the final ball of the 18th over.
Cummins became the first bowler in T20 World Cup history to take two hat-tricks with the first two deliveries of the 20th over, bowled by Karim Janat and Naib.
He would have taken four wickets in a row if Warner had held onto a relatively simple catch running in from deep point to dismiss Nangeyalia Kharote.
"They got 20 runs too many," admitted Marsh.
"To be honest, they played a really good game of cricket. We were outplayed tonight ... It was an off-night in the field and we own that."
Afghanistan made the best possible start with the ball in hand, with Naveen bowling Travis Head for a duck in the first over and Marsh caught in the deep for 12 in the third.
Warner followed for three off Mohammad Nabi's first delivery, leaving the Australians struggling on 32-3 in the final over of the power play, before the Afghans increased the pressure on their opponents by removing Stoinis and Tim David.
Glenn Maxwell's explosive 59 off 41 balls gave Australia some hope, but his dismissal by Naib, thanks to an acrobatic catch by Noor Ahmad, all but sealed the former champions' fate.
"I learnt from the batting innings on how to bowl," added Naib, who also took a low diving catch to dismiss Ashton Agar.
"Thanks to Rashid for trusting me, it's a team effort, Rahmanullah, Zadran and also Naveen for the momentum."
SportsLigue